The organization No A las Granjas Atuneras was given the green light from the Muni of Golfito to hold a district-wide referendum about the tuna farm.

This blessing is necessary, but it does not provide the money nor the mechanism for conducting a referendum.

The referendum can be conducted 6 months after the 2010 elections (September 2010 + 6 months = March 2011). At this referendum, all citizens of the Pavon district are invited to vote “For” or “Against” the tuna farm.

All of the logistical, legal and communications expenses of the referendum are borne by the groups fighting against the Tuna Farm. The developers of the tuna farm can engage in their own “For Tuna Farms” campaign, but they do not have to bear the costs of the referendum. These costs are estimated to be up to $15,000.

Golfito gave the community official bureaucratic permission to engage in a long and expensive struggle, to which many people are committed.

While mayor Jimmy Cubillo and candidate Eric Mora have said they are against the tuna farm, we are waiting for them to take concrete action. Only No A Las Granjas Atuneras and Pretoma are fighting the good fight. Donde estan los cojones en Golfito?

Unless it rains for thirty days and thirty nights, whatever rain we get between now and the beginning of December will not be enough to keep wells filled from December to June, 2010.

Aguas y Alcantarillas (the water utility) is saying it will be difficult to maintain normal water flows; they may ration water in the first months of 2010 in metropolitan San Jose. AyA blames current El Nino conditions and consumer waste. They predict this drought is worse than that of 1997-1998.

Of course, if we get moderate rains in December and January, we should be alright. But for now, corn and bean crops are failing, and cattle ranchers are considering culling herds ahead of the driest months of January, February and March.

People connected to the public aqueduct in Pavones know that the system is already stretched to capacity. The only viable solutions are to dig a deeper well or build a rainwater collection system.

Dave Ravimicus know several men that could use work right now, and Dave is a retired drainage expert that will make sure your well or cistern is built to high standards. Email Dave at rimavicus@yahoo.com.